Spinal cord injuries:Paraplegia: paralysis
of both lower limbsQuadriplegia:
paralysis of all 4 limbsComplete transection:
loss of all sensations and voluntary movement below the level of transection
Hemisection: partially severed – paralysis on the side of cut
“Challenges are often a matter of our perception."
Part of CNSFound within vertebral foramina of all
vertebrae (for protection) extends to 3rd or 4th lumbar vertebrae
Location
Function
The pathway for sensory input to the brain and motor output from the brain
Reflex center
Spinal cord anatomy
Spinal nerves: path of communication between spinal cord and specific parts of body; come in pairsConnected to spinal cord by:
Posterior (dorsal) root – sensory neurons; contains a posterior root ganglion (containing cell bodies of neurons)
Anterior (ventral) root – motor neurons
In the back;In the back;Out the frontOut the front
Gray matterforms a butterfly shape in the white matter dendrites, cell bodies, unmyelinated axons
Anatomy of gray matter Central canal: center of
gray matter; filled with cerebrospinal fluid
Posterior (dorsal) horns: sensory neurons
Anterior (ventral) horns: somatic motor neurons
In the back;In the back;Out the frontOut the front
Anatomy of white matterColumns: contain
tracts – bundles of axons; to/from brain
Meninges
3 layers that surround brain and spinal cord for protectionDura mater: most superficial Arachnoid mater: middlePia mater: touches surface of spinal cord and
brain.Cerebrospinal fluid is between arachnoid and pia
mater. It cushions and carries nutrients (oxygen, glucose) to neurons